The hot start of Rasmus Hojlund at Napoli was always going to cool off, and so it did, but he wouldn’t have thought that the cool-off would be accompanied by a double blow.
Credit where it’s due, Rasmus Hojlund used the fuel of rejection by Ruben Amorim and used it to power his start at Napoli.
Antonio Conte, an infamous taskmaster, quickly became a fan of Hojlund, and soon enough, the “post-Utd glow-up” was in full flow.
However, Hojlund is in the middle of a goal drought, which can happen to every striker, but a double blow on top of that is not ideal.
Photo by Franco Romano/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Rasmus Hojlund’s double whammy at Napoli
One thing United would be secure about when it comes to Hojlund’s loan deal is that the option to turn the deal into an obligation to buy will almost certainly be triggered.
Napoli just need to qualify for the Champions League, with Hojlund’s contribution, to become a permanent deal.
Therefore, his hot start was much needed, even more so because his first goal drought has coincided with a couple of other developments that make it worse.
Firstly, Hojlund’s backup, Lorenzo Lucca, largely MIA so far as Hojlund tore through the competition, is finding form again.
Lucca scored in Napoli’s latest 1-1 draw against Cagliari on a rare start for the club in a game where the Danish striker came off the bench to extend his drought.
To further complicate matters, Conte’s loyal soldier, Romelu Lukaku, is also close to returning from an injury that first prompted Napoli to move for Hojlund.
Suddenly, the undisputed first-choice at Napoli could find himself third in the pecking order after Lukaku’s return and Lucca finding form.
Hojlund still showing at Napoli what he didn’t at Man Utd
Despite Hojlund’s success after leaving Old Trafford, painting the club in a poor light again, United will be wishing the best for Hojlund.
Not just because they need the £38m option for him to come through next summer, but because he is a genuine fan of the club who wanted to stay and prove himself.
Despite his lack of goals recently, he has found ways to keep himself involved, as evidenced by an assist at his most recent start.
That all-round game is something he rarely showed at United, effectively becoming a “+1” for the team in games he wasn’t scoring.
It is why Amorim quickly cast him aside when Benjamin Sesko arrived, and why Sesko has received a longer leash despite not scoring at a prolific rate.
In any case, Hojlund doing well at Napoli bodes well for United, because, for them, he’s a £38m windfall they’re banking on next summer.
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